The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger by Ejiofor Dorcas

168 The weight of choices…

Miriam

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the festival ground. Laughter echoed from nearby stalls as staff and servants continued to move about, making finishing touches to every arrangement.

Beneath it all, Jeremy’s words echoed in my head, causing my blood to boil.

“What did you just say?” I asked.

“I said,” he repeated icily, “Tell your daughter to stay away from my son. This has gone on long enough and I won’t take it anymore.”

I spun on my heels, my eyes blazing with anger. “Stay away? Are you serious, Jeremy? After everything, do you still want to play this game? Grow up, already. It’s been years. They love each other. Why can’t you just let them be?”

―

A bitter laugh escaped his throat. “Why must it always be me who sacrifices, Miriam?” His eyes darkened with old pain as he shot back. “Haven’t I given enough? I sacrificed everything for you. My son rotted in the dungeon for four years–four years to prove his love for Lyla! And how does she repay him?”

“That’s enough!” I shouted, my voice matching my fury. My chest heaved as I glared at him, my hands trembling. “Lyla didn’t ask for any of this! She never wanted your sacrifices, your son’s grand gestures, or his twisted sense of duty. All she ever wanted was a normal life!”

Jeremy stepped closer, his massive frame towering over me. The hatred in his eyes made my wolf want to recoil, but I stood my ground. “I was ready to give up everything for

you, Miriam,” his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Everything. I was ready to accept all your baggage, all you mistake. I forgave you more times than I have ever forgiven anyone, but you chose him

over me”

I flinched, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew where this was going, but I couldn’t stop it.”

curled into a snarl. “And you had to do that to me? You betrayed me, Miriam. You threw

mate…”

struggled to hold my ground at the weight

like

leaned back slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. “Don’t try to justify it. I loved how

filled the air as tears streamed down my face. My breath hitched as I stared at

to bring up the past like this, to dredge up old wounds and use them as weapons. I made my choices;

weight of choices…

he stepped back, his jaw clenching tightly. “She’s not innocent in this, Miriam. None

understand. You’ve never understood. This isn’t

at the ground, then looked up, speaking quietly but with finality. “You think you’re protecting her, but you’re only delaying the inevitable. Secrets have a way of surfacing Miriam. And when they do, she’ll hate you for it. When she hears of her mother’s escapades…” he scoffed and continued “I wonder what the Moon Goddess saw in you to have given you

face as I spat. “You’ll never be half the man Logan is! Fine, you met me first, but you were never intentional with me. We met not once, Jeremy, but several times. You

just one fucking trip, Miriam. You think I didn’t see women who loved me too? I wanted to be fucked as much as you did?

in a temple for years. I didn’t know anything. Years after we reconnected, and I found out Logan was your Alpha. I came clean. I told

the birds scatter from nearby trees. “You were still

a fleeting moment, raw pain replaced

much that I didn’t mind you already had a baby. Despite the years that had passed between us, I was ready to accept you again because my feelings never changed. Do you even know the things you made me do for that love…” he stopped, drawing a shaky

rolling down my cheeks in a torrent, my heart breaking all over again as I

his face inches from mine, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, hatred dripping from every

did you make me believe I had another chance at

my mate, Micim. I was heartbroken…” his

me even a little?”

my mouth to speak, but Jeremy didn’t

broken heart, Miriam, and I can’t forgive you for that.”

weight of